Trying some lesser known rotors/pads...

Well I'm due for some front rotors since they're definitely warped and not getting any better. I had them turned right after I bought my 03 AV6mt in July since I was already getting some pulsing from harder stops. That lasted all of a few months and for a month or so now I cringe every time I have to apply the brakes. I figured I'd just do the fronts and rears, rotors and pads all at once and get it over with, all new all around so I won't have to do the backs eventually as well.

So I researched the crap-ola out of threads on here about brakes and came to the conclusion that there were two ends of the spectrum. Either go with A) stock blanks and decent pads and just replace the rotors when they warp or go with B) Rotoras or Powerslots and either Hawk or Greenstuff pads and have an awesome set up but pay out of the arse for everything.

Well, I chose C. I looked around long and hard at some cheap eBay slotted/drilled rotors and pad combinations and just couldn't pull the trigger. They all looked the same and didn't offer me any comfort in knowing why they were better than the other cheap-o rotors/pads out there. Plus I didn't want to get both slotted and drilled since I personally think it's overkill and have read over and over about how slots eat up pads. I've owned slotted/drilled and it's true, they do eat up pads along with creating massive amounts of brake dust.

So long story short, I found this company called rotorpros out of Cali. I read all about them from other forums and people ranted and raved about how inexpensive yet good quality they are and they would definitely buy them again, even over Rotoras and Powerslots. They use Centrik rotors and custom drill/slot per your order. If you want drilled only, slotted only, drilled/slotted, blanks, etc. they will do it. Their customer service was outstanding and my emails were replied before I could even check my inbox quick enough. Every question I asked was answered to the tee and made sense. Their prices are outstanding and they really seem to have a good product. I went with the drilled only, my thinking being they will run a lot cooler thus preventing warping and I'm sure someone would turn drilled only sooner than drilled/slotted. I ordered their premium semi-metallic pads to go along with them which they claim are low-dust, low-noise and require almost no break-in time. I read a press release on them and a review and they did very well.

I hope I'm not jinxing myself! Hopefully they turn out to be a nice median alternative to the other options I've come across. I'll update it once I get them on and let you know how they work.

BEFORE


AFTER


Well it's been a few days and I'm loving these brakes! There's no vibration what so ever and the brake effort is very linear. I actually enjoy applying the brakes now and find myself down shifting a lot less and using their stopping power. My stops are super smooth and there's no noise what-so-ever, so I couldn't be happier. The only thing I've noticed so far that could be considered a negative is there's quite a bit of brake dust on my wheels, but I think there will be less and less once the pads surface are conformed to the rotors face, but time will tell, so we'll see. So far though I'd say these rotors/pads are definitely well worth the money and I'd recommend Rotorpros over any eBay rotors of the same cost.